Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Finding Unmet Needs, Barriers and Facilitators of the Transition to Stability

Abstract

In spite of the growing population of young adults (ages 18 to 24) experiencing homelessness, relatively little research has been done on youths’ experiences with transitions out of homelessness. Utilizing remote individual interviews with ten youth participating in a Transitional-Living Program in Hawaii, thematic content analyses were used to investigate the barriers and facilitators of successful transitions out of the street and into stability, as well as factors contributing to homelessness and the unmet needs of homeless youth in this age group. Results of thematic content analyses are presented relative to each research question, including barriers to success, facilitators of success, contributors to youths’ experiences with homelessness, and youths’ unmet needs. Results are discussed relative to their contributions to increasing understanding of youth homelessness, factors contributing to it, and factors which ease their transitions into independence and stability. Recommendations for policy and practice are discussed.